Be Anxious For Nothing
Of all the Apostle Paul’s exhortations, his words in Philippians 4:6 stand out as practically impossible,
“Do not be anxious about anything.”
Anything? Really, Paul? He doesn’t mean, “Don’t care about anything,” or “Don’t take steps to solve problems,” but there is a sinful anxiety. It shows itself in different ways, but in my life a sinful anxiety shows itself as a vague worry about how all “this” is going to work out, whether it will cause pain, embarrassment, or loss of opportunity. And the result is a self-centered paralysis.
But Paul says that the treatment for faithless anxiety is prayer.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Dear friends, how often do we hide our anxieties, nurse our worries, and perhaps even say that we need God’s help, but then neglect God’s chosen means for renewing our hearts in the midst of worries?
And this reminds us of our need to confess our sins…
Prayer of Confession
O Lord, sovereign all-sufficient supplier of all things, we, your people, confess our anxieties. We tally up our worries and neglect your sovereign promises to be near us. We forget your charge to us to “fear not, little flock, for it is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” We allow our worries to take hold of us, to control us, and then to lead us away from your provision and toward fruitless alternatives. Forgive us, Lord, we ask, for how often we say to ourselves that we should pray to you, and then we don’t do it. Forgive us for forsaking you, the fountain of living waters, and digging out for ourselves cisterns that can hold no water. Forgive us, Lord, for even holding our worries against you, as if we deserve and can demand that you solve them all immediately.
Our anxieties should lead us to pray. And so, we ask, lead us now, in a time of silent confession…